World Cup History - Pakistan

Monday 17 January 2011

1975 World Cup

Pakistan had a lacklustre outing in the inaugural World Cup with two defeats in three games in the league stage.

1979 World Cup

The Pakistani team entered into the semi-finals from Group A, as they registered two wins in three matches in the league stage. But, in the semi-final clash against the West Indies at The Oval, they were bundled for 250 runs chasing 290 in 60 overs.

1983 World Cup

In the third edition of the tournament, Pakistan edged New Zealand on the basis of a superior run-rate with identical number of wins, in six games from Group A. However, it was a repeat of 1979 semi-finals, as West Indies handed them an eight-wicket defeat, guided by an aggressive Viv Richards, who made 80 off 96 deliveries to reach Pakistan’s target of 184 runs

1987 World Cup

Pakistan relished the familiar conditions as the World Cup was staged in the sub-continent for the first time with an impressive five wins in six games to ease into the final four from Group B. However, they could not overcome Australia in the semi-finals played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, suffering an 18-run defeat, undone by a man-of-the-match performance by pace man Craig McDermott, who claimed five for 44.

1992 World Cup

Imran Khan led Pakistan, who squeezed the semi-final berth at the expense of hosts Australia based on a better run-rate with four victories each in eight games. They went on to trounce New Zealand in the semi-final clash by four wickets, as young Inzamam-ul-Haq’s blitzkrieg (60 off 37 balls) overhauled the Black Caps total at Eden Park, Auckland.

In a thrilling final, the underdogs defeated England by 22 runs, as left-armer Wasim Akram engineered a collapse by dismissing dangerous batsman Chris Lewis and seasoned player Allan Lamb in consecutive deliveries to enable Pakistan to claim their first, and to date, only, World Cup title.

1996 World Cup

Pakistan managed to storm into the quarter-finals from Group B with a superb performance at group stage, with four wins from five games played. However, in the quarter-finals, the one-day specialist batsman Ajay Jadeja took fast bowler Waqar Younis for 22 runs in the 48th over, to post a challenging 287 runs in 50 overs. Pakistan lost the plot after opener Aamir Sohail’s wicket, as the final eight wickets fell for 126 runs, eventfully resulting in a 39-run defeat.

1999 World Cup

Pakistan entered the Super Sixes with four wins in six matches played in the Group B matches. They cleared the Super Six stages to qualify for the semi-finals, along side Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

In the semi-finals, Pakistan comprehensively defeated New Zealand by nine wickets chasing 240, with a ton from the stylish left-handed batsman Saeed Anwar (113 not out off 148 balls) playing the sheet anchor role at Old Trafford, Manchester.

However, in the final, Pakistan were steamrolled by eight wickets, as Australia restored their supremacy to overhaul Pakistan’s 132 all out in just 21overs, with opening batsman Adam Gilchrist hitting a belligerent 54 off 36 deliveries.

2003 World Cup

Pakistan had a wretched outing, as they failed to qualify from Pool A and they failed to make the cut for the Super Sixes with three defeats from six matches. 2007 World Cup

Pakistan suffered an ignominious defeat at the hands of minnows Ireland to go down by three wickets in a rain-curtailed game, in the group stage. They eventually crashed out of the World Cup as Ireland edged them out of Super Eights contention.